Now the Chief is accessible, i've been able to really take a look at it. Pulled the misc contents out of the boot and found all the chrome trims, new&unused window seals, the roof rails and once i'd pulled out the rotting carpet, the floorpans i'd been hoping to find. Just a very slight trace of surface rust at the wheel arches and foot wheels. Really good news.

Updates: Replaced the metal strip the front windows sit in (along the bottom of the glass) as the existing ones...didn't exist. Rusted away to nothing. Ben had bought replacements but never fitted them. This means that the windows now go up, and down. Without the metal base the winder arm had nothing to attach to.

Old and new:

Also replaced the drivers side flip window (triangle one at the front) as the lock button had broken off a long time ago. Again, Ben had bought 2 doors (off a Grand Wagoneer) just for these parts (as far as i can tell). Also replaced the rubber seals that go along the top of the door where the glass goes through, will keep the rain out of the doors.

Old and new. (old is just the clips, on a bit of wood to show what was left!)

I've sourced headlight trims (the brackets that hold the headlights in) from a couple of mates on the Jeep Forums. Ended up up with 2 pairs (two mates), cost me a fiver. Front grille is back on, and the surrounding chrome trim. Ben had bought 2 round headlights, which i think he was going to put in the spaces inside of where the regular lights sit (see pic). I'll make sure this is done, as he wanted. However, The 3 pairs of other driving lights will probably not get mounted, as this would mean 2 headlights, 2 grille mounted driving lights, plus 6 extra driving lights = 10 lights! Its a Jeep not a Vespa!

Original seats back in, electric motors working (moves the seat back and front, up and down).

Removed the headliner, had a look at the rust damage underneath. Surprisingly, not too bad (IMO). The damage has not spread further than just around the holes. The rest of the roof is (mostly) still in good shape.

Also had the angle grinder (with rust/paint pad) removing some of the outside body rust/bubbled paint. Got a bit worried to find 1/2" of bondo on the rear right corner, but was only filling a small dent, not a hole. Removed it all and have applied hammerite to the steel, as a temporary measure to protect it from further rust damage.

And finally, have rebuilt Freddie's 'tent' into a more practical carport. Double layer of tarps, supported by wooden staves and running the full length of the body, giving him better protection from the rain. Still a temporary structure whilst i collect the parts for a proper carport. And he is going to spend the winter indoors, in a barn (unless a miracle happens and his bodywork is fixed and painted in the next 2 months).

Not too bad thanks. Been tinkering on a fairly regular basis. Getting parts bolted on, Ben had quite few bits already. Sorting through the wiring, everything seems to be put electric where it's supposed to go. Exhausts are coming off as they're shagged. Split and rusted out.

Stuck right now as far as the roof goes. Have had a quite a few people take a look, and been asking at the various shows (i carry an album of Freddie pics on my phone, just for that purpose !). The overall opinion is that the roof needs to be removed, binned and a new one sourced. The amount of faffing about and intensive patching/welding required will warp the roof.

Great in theory, but not exactly something i can pop down to the local breakers and pick up. So i keep an eye out on the bay, etc. Got close a couple of times, but nothing yet. I may well have to find one in the States and ship it over. Found a great donor vehicle for about £600, unfortunately it's in the South of France, near Nice! A bit far.

About to find somewhere to put Freddie for the winter. Too dark on my driveway to play after work now and i want it out of the damp. This will also give me a chance to pull bits off and work on them indoors. For instance the carb needs a complete overhaul, but Freddie needs to move often as it blocks the garage door.

Freddie is taking a bit of a beating now the weather is getting worse, and my plans to built a better carport have been scuppered by a recent run in with HMRC, leaving me a few £K worse off. If anyone has, or knows of, a corner of a barn in Essex (Chelmsford area) where he can hide out for the winter for not too much ££, can you point me in the right direction. Will not be working on the car, just need somewhere to get him out from under the blue (leaky) tarp and somewhere dry.

Spent the day 'Freddie feddling'. Removing leaking fuel pump, draining the petrol soaked engine oil, Cleaning out extraneous wiring, which eventually let to the realisation that the front mount 'nudge bar' has to come off. It's mounted to the front suspension mounts, not the frame...

Finished wiring up the electric fuel pump. Definitely an improvement over the failing mechanical pump, runs so much better, no more stumbling or hesitation. Cleaned up the battery cables at the connections to the battery terminals were loose.

Then removed the brush guard as a) it didn't fit properly, b) was attached to the front suspension mounts = not good. Finally, bolted on the headlights and surrounds and replaced missing bolts to the air dam (under the number plate) as it was hanging down and bugging me.

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